Week in Review #40

No books finished this week.

Century of Viewing #40

1920s

• 1920 Why Change Your Wife? Gloria Swanson is always enjoyable to watch. The plot of this one, well, is morally questionable and exceedingly ODD but extremely very SOAP OPERA melodramatic. Husband (soon to be Cheating Husband) is tired of his wife not wanting to foxtrot and dress....scantily. He leaves her for a lingerie model. Wife #1 overhears gossipers calling her frumpy decides to wear as few clothes as possible. Cheating husband sees wife #1 looking amazing. Decides wife #2 was a mistake. A banana peel gets involved....obviously...because why wouldn't it. And the two women end up fighting--literally--over Injured Cheating Husband. He divorces Wife #2 who moves on to another guy EXTREMELY quickly. Wife #1 becomes Wife #3. And now she loves fox trotting....scantily clad.
• 1922 Blood and Sand. My second Valentino movie, I think???? Set in Spain. He's an el matador. He makes bad choices. Though to be fair, he does try a bit at least to resist temptation. But not too terribly much. His character definitely could have profited from reading the book of Proverbs.
• 1923 The Pilgrim. Charlie Chaplin stars in 'The Pilgrim' as an escaped convict who finds himself posing as a minister--a terrible misunderstanding, though he does deliver a sermon on David and Goliath--when he plays the hero, he's given a second chance....in Mexico. But the end credits showing him walking along with one foot in Mexico and one in Texas.

1970s

• 1977 Valentino. This was a LONG biopic of Rudolph Valentino. It is absolutely rated R. I do want my two hours back--mostly. If it was a musical--which it is not--I'd say it has Evita vibes. VERY melodramatic. VERY over-the-top. I have extreme doubts that it's true to his actual life.

2010s

• 2013. Return to Babylon. A silent movie about silent movie stars. This movie features biographical sketches--though facts may be disputed here and there--of the first Hollywood celebrities. Focusing more on 'scandals' and tragedies than anything else. THOUGH not always. (There wasn't anything particularly scandalous about the sketch of Gloria Swanson). It is a very intriguing film. Because it was filmed on a hand-cranked camera and it captures the style of that era. The soundtrack was fabulous.

2020s

• 2022 Moonfall. Is it a great movie? No, no it isn't. Could it have been better if it was trimmed up and a bit shorter? I say yes. Was it enjoyable to watch my best friend? DEFINITELY. I had been wanting to watch this one for a while. And I'm so glad I finally did. It's predictable but fun enough if your expectations are not high. Science fiction. Moon is not the moon. Earth in danger. From the director of Independence Day and The Day After Tomorrow.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #39

This week I finished three books. Two Bibles and a science fiction novel.

64. Speaker for the Dead. Orson Scott Card. 1986. 382 pages. [Source: Library] [audio book, science fiction, sequel]

7. New American Standard Bible Reference Edition. 1971. Lockman Foundation. 1730 pages. [Source: Bought]

8. New Marked Reference Bible (KJV). God. 1983. Zondervan. 1753 pages. [Source: Bought]

Century of Viewing #39



2010s

• 2013-2014. Flip or Flop seasons one and two. I haven't added this to my spreadsheet. It feels so shallowly fluffy that it's not worth the add. Each episode is about twenty minutes. A couple buys houses to flip them. DRAMA happens each episode as problems with the house are found. Will they make money or will they lose money. I find myself yelling at them a LOT. But the show is strangely addictive precisely because it's not very intelligent.

2020s

• 2026. Project Hail Mary. I am glad I read the book first. I think it does help viewers make sense of the movie. The movie is definitely centered on one or two characters. And much of the 'story' is told through flashbacks. If you've read the book, you know everything and there isn't much of a reveal or surprise--for better or worse. But it also helps the film make sense. What I disliked most has nothing to do with the story or the acting--but the soundtrack. I'll clarify, the VOLUME or lack thereof of the soundtrack. If you turn it up so you can hear the dialogue, everything is way too loud. Not a loud that is easily tolerated. It isn't just a few scenes where it's too loud--like you'd expect in a science fiction movie or an action movie. But the score of the movie itself is overpowering. The score is good, mind you, but it doesn't have to be louder than the dialogue to move you. As for story, man wakes up alone on space ship....later he comes across another person alone on a space ship....they become friends and together save the universe. It is definitely all about the relationship between these two. It is EMOTIONAL in places.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #38

I didn't finish any books this week.

Century of Viewing #38

1920s

• 1924 Girl Shy. A stuttering shy man with no experience at all even slightly with women writes a book about how to win all the ladies. The publisher sees it as a joke--at first rejecting it and then deciding to publish it AS a joke. Meanwhile, he falls in love with random person on the train because DOGGO. Also she falls in love with him because he shares Cracker Jacks? She's rich. He's poor. She ends up almost marrying someone else. He stops the wedding. I didn't love this one. I think the "stuttering gag" is a complete and total failure in a silent movie. And this one is WAY too long. So much could have been cut down because the moments between good bits or laughs makes the enjoyment of the whole go down. That's why I think Buster Keaton's shorter SHERLOCK JR, released the same year--one day later to be exact if Wikipedia is correct is a million times better. And it's half the length but A MILLION times more enjoyable. This one has a good enough premise perhaps--but it takes FOREVER to get anywhere. And when you are finally moving ahead with the plot the stuttering gag just slows it down all over again because you have to be reminded that yes this man in a SILENT MOVIE is stuttering.

1980s

• 1984 Ghostbusters. I enjoyed the song very much. I am glad I have seen it. It was enjoyable enough--I do love Bill Murray most of the time. I am glad I did not see it as a kid in 1984. Definitely would have SCARED me as a kid.
• 1989. Ghostbusters II. Technically a Christmas movie perhaps??? Doesn't matter, I don't think I'll voluntarily watch it again no matter the time of year. I would describe this one as I want my time back. Or if you don't love it after the first twenty minutes it's okay to abandon.

1990s

• 1997 Romy and Michele's High School Reunion. SUPER SUPER fun soundtrack. Enjoyable enough story. Romy and Michele are best, best, best, best friends--have been forever. Their high school reunion (10 years) is fast approaching...Romy wants to pretend to be super super successful....and Michele, she goes along with it not really caring one way or another. CAN their friendship overcome the stress of seeing their classmates particularly those that bullied them????

2000s

• 2005. Romy and Michele: In the Beginning. Is this the worst movie I've seen all year? Maybe. Probably. I'd have to look at my spreadsheet. But one star for sure. I am not sure about the casting. I almost wished that the roles were swapped with the actresses. I spent most of the video trying to figure out WHERE I recognized the one playing Michele. It is Virgin River. Of course she's been in plenty of movies and shows. So this prequel "movie" has so little plot that I'm not sure why it exists. But it shows the two friends moving to LA.

2020s

• 2026 Power Ballad. I wanted to love, love, love this one. I liked aspects of it for sure. BUT I don't know that I'd watch it again-again. (Though I might listen to the soundtrack at some point). Honestly, I enjoyed Paul Rudd as a wedding singer. The entire movie could have been him doing gigs as a wedding singer and covering songs with the occasional original....and him hanging out with his family and bandmates. But this wasn't that movie--not really. He plays a wedding where a famous ex-boy-band singer is a guest. The two sing together at the wedding and have an awesome time. They hang out after the wedding too. He plays some of his original songs for the famous guy. The famous guy enjoys and even gifts him a guitar. Though WHY he has a whole studio in a country he doesn't live and he's just a guest at a wedding--why does he have a collection of guitars and other musical-y stuff??? Is the guitar even his to give? A while later, wedding singer guy hears HIS original song on the radio being performed by famous singer guy. He's livid that he's not going to be credited with cowriting it at least. And no one seems to believe him that it is *his* song. So much drama and angst that goes on WAY too long. The movie is all about him coming to peace perhaps with just being a wedding singer and having the most awesome family life.
• 2026 Center Seat II. This is a five part documentary on Star Trek focusing on Star Trek Next Generation movies and the rebooted trilogy of movies. It mentions the series a little bit but not much. This is mostly-mostly about the movies except for when specific episodes connect to the movies. I have seen some of the first 'Center Seat' series but not all the episodes. Definitely interesting interviews and behind the scenes stuff.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #37

This week I reviewed two books.

68. Scaredy Squirrel. Melanie Watt. 2008. Kids Can Press. 42 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture book, emotions and feelings, animal fantasy]
69. The Little Mouse, the Red Ripe Strawberry, and the BIG Hungry Bear. Don and Audrey Wood. 1984. 32 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, picture books, animal fantasy]

Century of Viewing #37

1920s

• 1926 Dancing Mothers. Do I pity anyone in this movie? NO, not really. I don't pity the cheating husband. I don't pity the cheating wife. I don't pity the man who is in love with the mother after amusing himself with the daughter. I don't pity the daughter who is confused as to why her mother fell in love with the guy she was chasing. Mainly I'm confused as to why the audience is supposed to sympathize with the mother. At least if the intertitles are to be believed. The mother takes the advice of her friend--someone who lost her son in World WAR I--that she shouldn't spend her nights at home while her daughter is out at nightclubs smoking and dancing AND her father is out with other women at nightclubs, probably smoking and dancing, and ETC. So she goes out to nightclubs and starts smoking and dancing. She meets the "scandalous" heart-breaker of a man that her daughter has fallen for and is chasing after relentlessly and shamelessly. So "for the sake of her daughter" she diverts his attention all to herself. Using a fake name--her stage name from before she married--and they carry on an affair. When all comes to light she BLAMES her husband and her daughter BECAUSE THEY ARE SELFISH AND THINK ONLY OF THEMSELVES. I mean granted, her husband isn't worth much. And her daughter lacks common sense and probably morals. BUT who raised the daughter??? NO pity to be found for this cheating woman who RUNS AWAY to Europe after being discovered BECAUSE HER FAMILY IS TOO SELFISH TO FORGIVE.
• 1928 Our Dancing Daughters. No relation--as far as I know--to Dancing Mothers which I watched earlier tonight. Three women--Diana, Beatrice (Bea) and Ann--are flapper friends who like to dance and party and be all the modern--drinking, smoking, etc. Bea has fallen madly in love and is regretting her earlier [lusty lusty] decisions. Ann puts on a show--depending on the audience. When she thinks a guy has all the $$$ and might marry her she is sweet, demure, all the innocent. Otherwise, anything goes. Diana is extremely extroverted and the life of a party. She'll dance on table tops, dance with all the guys in the room, just live it up. But she's "a good girl." Both Ann and Diana fall for the same guy. He thinks Diana must be immoral since she is the life of the party...so he chooses "demure" and "sweet" Ann who is plotting and manipulative just like her mother. Plenty of regrets Ben has after they are married. But will he get the opportunity to choose differently????
• 1929 The Trespasser. Gloria Swanson's first talking picture is all DRAMA. A couple weds quickly but the marriage dissolves just as quickly when his rich parents interfere. She keeps their child a secret, but, later when scandal erupts, well, she'll make the ultimate sacrifice....will she ever have a happy ending?

1930s

• 1938 You Can't Take It With You. Extremely very quirky from beginning to end. It is a romantic comedy that excels in side characters and charm. I definitely liked it enough to want to watch it again at some point.
• 1939 Mr. Smith Goes to Washington. Another Frank Capra film. (I just watched You Can't Take It With You this past weekend). I liked it okay. Definitely unevenly paced in my opinion. OR else I was really extremely sleepy when I started it last night. One man fights for what is right....against all odds.

1960s

• 1962 Zotz! A professor comes into possession of an ancient coin that has magical properties when you say the word Zotz. But there are evil powers that be that want to get their hands on the coin....It is completely silly, quirky, ridiculous, but fun if you're in the right mood. I was in the right mood.

1990s

• 1992 School Ties. Set in the 1950s, I believe, this is a drama set at a prep school in Massachusetts. Lots of familiar faces in this one. Lots of football and French....and guys being not so nice to one another. I enjoyed it well enough.

2020s

• 2026. Leanne Season 2. I enjoyed this one. It isn't so much that there's actual plot, but, the characters and relationships of the family are well done and the episodes are funny.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #36

This week I reviewed two books.

63. Thank You, Sun. Douglas Florian. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [children's poetry, 4 stars]

20. Connect: How to Grow Your Church in 28 Days Guaranteed. Don Corder. 2019. 233 pages. [Source: Borrowed] [3 stars, christian nonfiction]

Century of Viewing #36

1930s

• 1932 Movie Crazy. You have to be in the right kind of mood to watch really old movies. I was not in the mood apparently. HOWEVER, the premise does sound interesting...perhaps not original but interesting. Harold Hall (not to be confused with Professor Harold Hill, Harold Hill) wants to be in movies. The problem? He isn't an actor and he's terrible at it. He's good at making people laugh unintentionally. For whatever reason, when he arrives a movie star actress falls for him????? Definitely insta-something which I just can't fathom. He ends up winning the girl and I think getting to be in movies too but all because he's accidentally funny and goofs up all the time always. The plot is vaguely similar to Buster Keaton's Free and Easy. Though in that one, Buster's character did NOT want to be an actor...he only wanted the girl....a nobody from a small town with no talent whatsoever except incredibly bad taste in men. I don't see the appeal for Harold Lloyd. HOWEVER, maybe I just haven't found the right movie yet. I saw one or two last year that were very MEH.
• 1934 Evergreen. Musical. For better or worse. A daughter who resembles her mother (they are played by the same actress) 'returns' to London and enters show business posing as her beautiful, never-aging mother. She even pretends to have a grown son--but her and the fake son fall in love. So secrets can't stay secret long....but you can sing your way out of trouble if you're beautiful??? I'm not sure. I was expecting more of a resolution than a song and dance number, but that was probably asking too much.
• 1935 Call of the Wild. He's looking for gold...and finds love. She's looking for her missing husband...and finds a second chance at love. Her husband...well...I think he's just looking to survive. But he's thrilled to be reunited with his wife...he's clueless that this movie has been about his wife finding love with Clark Gable. He lets the girl and his dog go....

1950s

• 1951 When Worlds Collide. A sci-fi disaster movie from the early 1950s. This time it is NOT a meteor but a planet....or two....heading our way. An ark will be built--a rocket ship to save a selected few. I enjoyed this one.

1980s

• 1985 Back to the Future. Enjoyable. Fun. Nostalgic. Definitely enjoyed my trip back.

2020s

• 2023 Starved for Perfection. Every time I watch a Karen Carpenter documentary I hope for a different end. I tend to overthink and ask a lot of what ifs when I read or watch biographies. The one that stuck with me this time was what if fame wasn't a factor. Would she have found love and happiness and avoided the heaviness of life??? What if she'd been allowed to stay behind the drums and not forced out in the spotlight and into more scrutiny. What if she'd been 1000000% supported by her family? What if her brother hadn't been the only beloved child. BUT her music was and is wonderful. And that voice is unforgettable. And I'm guessing that HER tragic ending helped others avoid such an end. It brought awareness and knowledge. Lives may have been saved because people realized how dangerous this was/is.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #35

This week I read seven books!

61. Old Man's War. John Scalzi. 2005. 318 pages. [Source: Library] [adult science fiction, 5 stars, military science fiction]
62. In the Red. Christopher Swiedler. 2020. [March] 288 pages. [Source: Library]
63. Orris and Timble Star Stories. Kate DiCamillo. Illustrated by Carmen Mok. 2026. 80 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy]
64. WhoHQ: The Beatles. Ellen Labrecque. Illustrated by Fanny Liem. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, j nonfiction, j biography, music appreciation]
65. Shy. Julie Andrews and Emma Walton Hamilton. 2026. 52 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, animals, music appreciation]
66. We Are All Ears. Jonathan Fenske. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [beginning reader, 3 stars]
67. Hairy and Scary! Jan Thomas. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, humor, picture book]


Century of Viewing #35

1950s

• 1956 Invasion of the Body Snatchers. This was such a GREAT movie!!!! I definitely enjoyed it more than I thought I would. The title does say it all. I also love the way the story unfolds--as a flashback. One lone man trying to warn the world....
• 1959 4D Man. This one has a bit of everything. TWO brothers fall in love with the same girl. Both are scientists. Both want to be inventors. Both have theories that seem impossible. Both end up working for the same company. But one brother, well, he takes things WAY too far. It's got a snazzy, jazzy soundtrack. And it sounds like some of the sound effects in this are the transporter sound effects in Star Trek. Though I'm not saying they are the same, just that they sound extremely similar. IT was a very entertaining film. Very dramatic.

2020s

• 2026 Agent Kim Reactivated. EXTREMELY action-packed and dramatic. YET there is EMOTION in every episode. A retired agent comes out of retirement (hiding) when something terrible happens to his daughter.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #34

This week I read three books!

58. Every Time a Bell Rings: The Legacy of It's a Wonderful Life, America's Most Beloved Holiday Film. Emily St. James and Lauren Theisen. 2026. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [2 stars, adult nonfiction, essays]
59. The Phantom Tollbooth. Norton Juster. Illustrated by Jules Feiffer. 1961/2011. Random House. 272 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, children's fantasy, children's classic]

60. A Mismatch Made in London. Melanie Dickerson. 2026. 304 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, historical romance, clean romance]

Century of Viewing

1980s

• 1980 Flash Gordon. Was it ridiculous???? YES. All the yes. Was it enjoyably ridiculous? Mostly. So Flash Gordon must save the world, the galaxy, something like that.

2020s

• 2023 Strong Girl Nam-Soon. I loved, loved, loved this k-drama! The women in this family are super-super-super-strong. Gang Nam-soon went missing as a child....lost on a trip with her dad in Mongolia. She comes to Korea looking for her birth parents...and discovers SO much more. This one is all the awesome. Loved the intense drama. Loved the romance. Loved the quirky characters.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #31

This week I read one book.

49. Rainbow Valley. L.M. Montgomery. 1919. 256 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, series book, children's classic]

Century of Viewing #31

1930s

• 1933 Deluge. Post-apocalyptic/disaster film. Martin falls in love with Claire after a terrible, horrible disaster (global) threatens all of civilization and life as we know it. BUT bad news for Claire, his wife and kids are still alive. There are also LOTS of men making unwise decisions and acting like hooligans.

1950s

• 1951 The Model and the Marriage Broker. Thelma Ritter stars as a marriage broker or matchmaker in this "romantic comedy" from the 1950s. When there is a mix up with their purses she befriends a young model and without her knowledge begins trying to set her up with a good match. All seems to be going well...until she finds out her friend is a professional match maker. There is more drama and if there's comedy, well, it's on the sadder, darker side. This one examines LONELINESS and aging as a single man (or woman). Those who haven't found their match on their own...and are holding onto hope that their person does exist out there. One of the darker elements is that the "other woman" who stole her husband IS back wanting her to set up a marriage for her now that their former husband has died. It is a thought provoking movie.
• 1958 Space Master X-7. Is this the most dull science fiction movie ever? Possibly. Though I might have seen at least one or two that are worse. Essentially space fungus has been collected and is carnivorous. It doesn't go well for the scientist working with it. BUT because this is not actually science fiction-y. His SECRET, EX-LOVER, has come to visit him to talk about their super secret love child that he has custody of. She's exposed (and doesn't know it) and while allegedly it's her putting the world in danger....it's more HER LUGGAGE with some escaped spores. 80% of the movie is three men looking for this mysterious woman with very few clues. She sees police at the air port? train station? And she's like THEY MUST BE AFTER ME. Is there any real reason why she would know they were looking for her???? NOPE. But she runs. She panics. She does all the things. But they are clueless. It takes most of the movie for them to find her....and her luggage has gotten out of control.

1970s

• 1971 Cold Turkey. This is a great example of a movie I'd never watch if it wasn't for the Century of Viewing challenge. A small town accepts the challenge of giving up smoking for a huge amount of money. Every resident must sign the pledge....and no cheating allowed. Dick Van Dyke stars in this one....as does Bob Newhart.
• 1973 Girl Most Likely To. This DVD cover art isn't the best. Miriam Knight doesn't know it but she's about to enter PETTY UNIVERSITY and get a 4.0. Plain and frumpy Miriam Knight has the perfect chance for sweet, sweet revenge after a car accident gives her a brand new face. BUT those who treated her wrong better watch out!
• 1976 Futureworld. Science fiction. Horror. Though not as horrific (in some ways) as Westworld. A different type of horror for sure. Reporters have returned for the reopening of this theme park. And they are trying to see if there are STILL problems and issues making this park unsafe for humans. This isn't so much about guests going to have a good time as it is investigative reporting with extreme risks.

1990s

• 1996 Daylight. It isn't quite a natural disaster story, but, it is an action-packed, emotional, dramatic survival story. An explosion in a tunnel connecting New York and New Jersey leads to heartache and catastrophe. There are survivors struggling to survive and escape--but I believe both sides of the tunnel are collapsed? DEFINITELY some sadness. But such a good movie if you're into the surviving sort.

2000s

• 2003 Timeline. I wanted to read the book before watching the movie. However, allegedly it's leaving Tubi at the end of the month. Science fiction. Archaeologists travel back in time via a wormhole to medieval France where they face many, many, many challenges trying to survive and get back home. Some romance. Mainly action.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #30

This week I read two books.

60. Dragon's Fat Cat (Dragon #2) Dav Pilkey. 2019. (1992) Scholastic. 64 pages. [Source: Review copy] [5 stars, early chapter book, animal fantasy]

19. The Goodness of God in the Gift of Scripture. Uche Anizor. 2026. 224 pages. [Source: Review copy] [Christian nonfiction, theology, 5 stars]


Century of Viewing #30

1950s

• 1954 Creature From the Black Lagoon I'm glad I watched it. Fairly predictable. People--mainly scientists, mainly men--making poor choices and stubbornly sticking by those choices. It would have been a MUCH shorter movie if someone thought through things logically.

1960s

• 1965 Planet of Vampires There are no vampires. Just angry Martians that possess the bodies of these astronauts. It was okay.
• 1966 The Singing Nun I love Debbie Reynolds!!!! This isn't my favorite of her movies. BUT it was definitely worth watching! It is a bio pic. It is based on a true story of a singing nun, Jeanne-Paule Marie Deckers. Dominique is certainly catchy.

1970s

• 1970 The Phantom Tollbooth I really, really, really enjoyed some scenes of this one. I found others to be less so and more taste-specific. Still I am glad to watch this adaptation. Still quotable. It did drag on a bit too long or I got sleepy. One or the other.

1980s

• 1981 Stripes I would have preferred an "edited for TV version" perhaps. It was a little crude. HOWEVER it was also quite funny in places. (And not the crude places.) I am glad I watched it. Still prefer the much cleaner No Time for Sergeants. Definitely not my favorite Bill Murray either. However, What About Bob? and Groundhog Day are definitely among my favorite, favorite, favorite movies.

1990s

• 1999 Blast from the Past I absolutely LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE, LOVE this romantic comedy. Adam grows up SHELTERED to say the least. But when he does meet his Eve, his world is turned upside down in the BEST WAY POSSIBLE. I love the characters, the music, the story. Highly recommend.

2000s

• 2001 Evolution It was mildly decent. I think it tried a little too hard to be funny. Anyway, meteor crashes to earth bringing alien life that will soon multiply and threaten the world.
• 2006 Idiocracy Did I absolutely love every joke??? No. Was it very quotable? YES. I could have done with a little less crudeness. HOWEVER, that fit with the whole premise of the movie. Not Sure was definitely a good 'hero.' The premise??? Two 'average' (dispensable) people are frozen in a military experiment. They were supposed to awake one year later, but, they are woken up 500 years later. These 'average' people are now THE most genius minds in the world.
• 2009 Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs I liked it. It was weird and quirky and I still don't love the animation style. BUT it was an entertaining story for sure. Definitely one lesson could be there can be too much of a good thing.

2010s

• 2010 Megamind I had low expectations. I enjoyed it probably because of those low expectations. Or at least in part. I definitely ended up feeling more than I thought I would.

2020s

• 2026 Teach You a Lesson I loved, loved, loved this k-drama!!!! Think 21 Jump Street meets the Matrix. A team goes into school (some members of their team go undercover as students, some become substitute teachers) to uncover crimes and injustices against both teacher and students. Most episodes are stand-alone. But some of them definitely go together. And the story they tell is cohesive. Everything is building up until that last episode. This one has ALL the feels. Extremely emotionally intense. BUT so well done!!!!!

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week In Review #29

This week I read EIGHT books.

47. How a Bear Became a Book: The Collaboration That Created Winnie-The-Pooh. Annette Bay Pimentel. Illustrated by Faith Pray. 2026. 48 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, nonfiction, history, picture book]
48. The Lost World (Jurassic Park #2) Michael Crichton. 1995. 448 pages. [Source: Library] [adult science fiction, 5 stars, dinosaurs]
56. Jumanji. Chris Van Allsburg. 1981. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, fantasy, 3 stars]
57. The Biggest Cat in the Book. Ben Lerwill. Illustrated by Mark Chambers. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]
58. After Squidnight. Jonathan Fenske. 2020. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture book]
59. A Unicorn, a Dinosaur, and a Shark Were Riding a Bicycle. Jonathan Fenske. 2024. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book]

17. We Are Home When We Are Together: Trusting God Through Life's Changes. Jean Stoffer and Grace Start. Illustrated by Megan Lindsey. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, Christian picture book, moving]


18. You Always Belong: Knowing God's Love and Finding Your Place. Jinger Duggar Vuolo and Jeremy Vuolo. Illustrated by Sara Romero. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [picture book, 4 stars]


Century of Viewing #29
1940s

• 1940. Dance, Girl, Dance. This is DEFINITELY my favorite film from the 40s that I've seen so far this year. It was GREAT. Maureen O'Hara and Lucille Ball. Tiger Lily (that's her stage name) has it all....she has the oomph or 'it' factor. Judy loves, loves, loves to dance--specifically ballet. Will Judy ever get a break?
• 1942. Meet the Stewarts. Will these two live happily ever after???? Or will they fight about money morning, noon, and night?!?!?! Can she charm her way into spending more than he makes???? Perhaps.
• 1943. Du Barry Was a Lady. I had NO idea what to expect from this musical comedy. Red Skelton. Lucille Ball. Gene Kelly. It was strange but in an amusing way, for the most part. It would make for a good double feature with Singing in the Rain I think. Anyway, the heroine, May, thinks she HAS to marry for money and not love...but the piano player has her heart....and she is learning to listen to it.
• 1944. Cover Girl. Gene Kelly. Rita Hayworth. LOTS of tap dancing for better or worse. She's a dancer in love with a man who plays piano. Because she resembles her grandmother, a guy wants to make her a star -- a cover girl. She doesn't really want it, but piano guy pushes her away and then disappears. She jilts the rich guy to be with piano guy because of a pearl. The thing that irritated me most were the flashback scenes to tell the grandmother's story. That and there was a little too much singing and dancing.
• 1944. They Came To a City. How to describe this one???? If Twilight Zone had a nerdy philosophical child. It is all talk and no action. I mean unless you think watching nine actors climb stairs and stare at a door is action. It is essentially all dialogue. There isn't much character development either--just each actor represents an idea or viewpoint.
• 1949. Adam's Rib. Should two lawyers marry one another???? In this one HE prosecutes the case his wife is defending....and somehow or other there's a hit song on the radio involved. MUCH dialogue, but there is an intriguing story. I don't know that I'd describe it as a "funny picture" let alone "funniest picture in 10 years" though maybe I just haven't seen enough movies from 1939-1949.

1950s

• 1952 We're Not Married. Five couples learn that their marriages are not legal and that their was a problem with the person officiating the ceremonies. Each couple responds to this news differently. Years after saying "I do" will they still choose to say "I do" again????
• 1957. The Incredible Shrinking Man. There were a few things that I over thought. (Like when he struck a match in the basement, and the match is taller than him, and the flames are HUGE) and he just tosses it to the side like fire isn't going to fire.) BUT I found the premise intriguing and it worked really well. I thought some of the scenes were super memorable. SO happy I watched this one!!!!
• 1958. It! The Terror from Beyond Space. Black and white science fiction/horror movie with a monster from Mars. It was decent.

1960s

• 1964. The Horror of Party Beach. Is this the worst movie I've seen all year? Probably not. Is it in my bottom five or six? Probably. Is there a moral to the story? Probably not...except don't leave the house to socialize???? I don't think the "musical" aspect of this "beach movie" helped.

1970s

• 1974. The Towering Inferno. It's a LONG movie but that's because it is truly a towering inferno. If they'd had their brilliant idea from the last fifteen minutes of the movie at the halfway mark, then it could have been shorter. IT was intense. I did yell at the screen a few times. It had some stubborn characters, some despicable characters, some stubbornly despicable characters. But I enjoyed it. It was a blend of soapiness (why do all the offices have BEDS) and disaster movie.

2020s

• 2026. Little House on the Prairie. Reboot). Eight episodes that loosely tell the story of what happened when the Ingalls family moved to Kansas. There are several things to keep in mind. Laura Ingalls Wilder nonfiction biography which was sent around to various publishers but ultimately NOT published as is. There were several manuscript versions keeping it "nonfiction" and a biography. Pioneer Girl is the annotated version of this biography. Highly recommended. BUT keep in mind with that that it was written based on her memories after six decades or so. So there would definitely be the potential for mistakes and misremembering. Getting names and dates wrong. Remembering events out of order. Remembering certain things REALLY well and other things barely at all. We do know that Laura WAS around three when in Kansas. Mary would have been five. Carrie was born in Kansas. The truth is we'll never know the TRUE TRUTH of these years. ALSO there are the fictionalized accounts in the LITTLE HOUSE book series. These are FICTIONALIZED and edited to tell a story. Whether it was ROSE or LAURA doing the choosing of how the story was edited and pieced together is a whole other side issue. ALSO there is the television show from the 1970s. The television show was far removed from the book series. The show was not remotely faithful to the book series OR Laura's life. Does the reboot work on its own WITHOUT taking into account the biography (Pioneer Girl) or the fictionalized book series??? I think it does for the most part. If the family had ANY other name I don't think there'd be any doubt to say that it is an interesting/entertaining story. Does the rebook work TAKING INTO ACCOUNT the book series and biography? Somewhat. It is more of a WHAT IF. With a few of the what ifs being if the characters were completely and totally different than how they were presented in the book or biography. What if the characters were completely and totally different than most people living during that time period??? What if the Ingalls family had settled in Kansas when the girls were MUCH, MUCH older. Mary seems to be about 14 or 15. Laura seems to be 9 to 10. This makes ALL THE SENSE from an acting stand point. Laura and Mary can't be 3 and 5 and actually carry the series as stars. But it does CHANGE the stories being told. LIKE Mary having a first romance and first kiss. LIKE Laura already having gone to school and knowing how to read. LIKE the girls being OLD ENOUGH to do a LOT of manual labor and helping in the building of the log cabin. Mary and Laura are HAULING LOGS. What if Laura's best, best, best, best friend was an Indian girl??? True in the book series, Laura was SUPER, SUPER, SUPER curious at observing them from a distance. BUT it is a bit of a leap. WHAT if the Ingalls lived REALLY, REALLY, REALLY close to town and had dozens of neighbors. That's not at all the picture we see in the book series. Looking at the 1870 census MIGHT show how many were settled in that county at that time, SO perhaps it might pass historically. The neighbors. When trying to give the show the absolute fairest chance, I am choosing to look at what the show IS and put to the side the book series for the moment at least. I thought the show did a GREAT job in bringing four or five neighboring families to life. The SHOW differs from the book in that it goes beyond--way, way, way, way beyond--LAURA'S point of view. This is MULTIPLE points of view. Some episodes spend a LOT of screen time in the homes of the neighbors. These are private moments, character development moments. With the exception of the doctor (or the doctor's name) and Mr. Edwards, these are, I believe, completely fictional characters. (I could be wrong. It has been a few months since I read Pioneer Girl. Annotated notes might have revealed neighbor names. It has been about seven or eight months since reading Little House on the Prairie. So names might have been mentioned that haven't stuck.) So many episodes feature the Ingalls settling into town life. Building the church. Founder's day. Women's society meetings. I'm sure I'm forgetting some. So the focus is on Ingalls settling into a NEW community and being awesome influences for good. Pa and Ma being the voice of kindness or logic or peace or whatnot. One thing that I did love was the focus on FINANCIAL woes of the Ingalls family. I do think that the family was often in and out of trouble. Another thing I enjoyed was bringing stories of the Big Woods into conversation. Mentions of grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, etc. I did NOT love how they implied something horribly, horribly, horribly DARK about Uncle George and Pa's Pa. About how PA would not be welcomed back by their families and they almost had to leave to get a new start because of something happening within the family. There were scenes that indicated something traumatic about George. I had to look up family history. Uncle George was alive and well...until 1901? 1902? 1900? So unless I'm missing something that the internet hasn't told me (when asked), the melodramatic story is fictional. I thought that for the most part the show does a good job in showing the vulnerability of Ma and Pa. Ma would have been around 30 in real life. This Ma looks a bit younger. But the relationship seems complex--that life wasn't easy and all the wonderful. That it was HARD work and UNCERTAIN work. Being married to a farmer, a hunter, someone who wanted to move, move, move. The timeline seemed a bit fuzzy in the show. Carrie (in real life) was born in August. They have her born in December. When they leave she's still a tiny, tiny, tiny thing still fitting in a picnic basket like thing. Yet the corn crops are growing and there is talk of harvesting. So I'm not sure how MANY months/years supposedly this family is supposed to have been settled in Kansas. At the very least nine months to a year. Laura and Mary. I'm not sure how much focus is on their relationship in Pioneer Girl. In the novels, Mary is SAINT. Laura is always half-jealous, half-hating Mary for being perfect saint. Mary in this adaptation is anything but saint. Laura and Mary are almost always bickering, fighting, picking on each other, giving each other the silent treatment, refusing to help each other. At one point, I think Mary even says that she HATES having Laura as a sister. So quite a bit of difference. It does seem potentially realistic to have a very human relationship as opposed to one being a saint. But it is also quite a difference from the books. Laura is SPUNKY and feisty and adventurous. That remains.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #28

This week I read four books. (One was a Bible).

53. Fox Catches a Wave. Corey R. Tabor. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, I Can Read Book, early readers]

54. Cat's New Book. Nathalie Belhassen. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [5 stars, picture books, cats, friends]

55. Hand, Hand, Fingers, Thumb. Al Perkins. 1969. Random House. 36 pages. [Source: Bought]

5. KJV (King James Version) MacLaren Large Print Reference (Thomas Nelson). 2021. 1504 pages. [Source: Gift] [5 stars, Bible, King James Bible]

Century of Viewing #28

1940s

• 1946 Magnificent Doll Ginger Rogers stars as Dolley Payne Todd Madison. I'm not sure how accurate this historical drama is. I'm guessing a lot of liberties were taken. But the emphasis is on the love triangle between Aaron Burr, Dolley, and James Madison. It was enjoyable enough
• 1947 It Had to Be You. WILD, wild premise. Victoria, the heroine, has jilted three grooms...and is engaged to another. She goes away for a month to prove that she is absolutely, totally serious about marrying this fourth guy. Except she dreams up a guy (dressed as an Indian of all things) who interrupts her wedding, and turns her life upside down. This magical element isn't super explained. Anyway, she realizes that HE is the conjured up grown up version of a boy she met as a party (also dressed up as an Indian). She tracks down the real boy--now a MAN--a fire man. But for some odd reason, he's not madly, madly in love with her and dreaming about her, and wanting to marry her! HE is uninterested. So she pursues him....with extremely mixed results. Her wedding to fourth guy...is still on....but will he interrupt it in real life????

1970s

• 1978 Movie Movie. George Burns opens this movie introducing the "double feature" of the olden days of thirty to forty years ago. Two 'movies' and a 'movie trailer'. "Dynamite Hands" is a boxing 'movie' that I thought was AWESOME. I loved the story and it was a great blend of satire/tribute. The writing was great fun. "Baxter's Beauties of 1933" was less enjoyable. It was a musical. It was over the top. It does remind me a lot of the 1930s musicals. I enjoyed this overall. Definitely the first movie more than the second. Each movie is about fifty minutes.

1980s

• 1982 Enigma. Martin Sheen and Sam Neill star in this cold war HOLIDAY drama. I don't know if there are other spy thrillers set during Christmas, but this one definitely is. It's also a ROMANTIC drama. If only Hallmark would expand their tropes for Christmas movies.

1990s

• 1991 Hook. I've always wanted to watch Hook because the premise sounded interesting. Plus I did enjoy reading Peter Pan--I've read it several times actually. So I thought it might be good. I wasn't prepared for how dull and lifeless it was. The premise is that Peter has grown up and forgotten he was Peter Pan. When his own children are taken by Hook, he must remember so he can save them. Sounds interesting on paper, I think, but definitely felt like it was 800 hours long.

2010s

• 2017 Lego Batman Movie Is this the *best* Batman movie? Maybe. In the same way that Galaxy Quest is the best Star Trek movie. I love, love, love this movie. It is fun. It is funny. It is quotable. This is a movie that had me at hello. Batman narrates the opening credits, and it's just SO fun.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #27

This week I reviewed four books.

51. Rebecca the White House Raccoon. April Genevieve Tucholke. Illustrated by Dave Szalay. 2026. 40 pages. [Source: Library] [4 stars, picture book, based on a true story]
52. Zathura. Chris Van Allsburg. 2002. 32 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, picture book, fantasy]
45. The Other Bennet Sister. Janice Hadlow. 2020. 463 pages. [Source: Review copy] [adult fiction, historical fiction, historical romance, Austen adaptation, 5 stars]
46. The Andromeda Strain. Michael Crichton. 1969. 327 pages. [Source: Library] [3 stars, adult science fiction, science fiction, thriller]

Century of Viewing #27

1940s

• 1941 Sunny. This movie felt like it was 18 hours long. They met during Mardis Gras. They fell in love in three minutes. He's from a rich society family. Her family is the circus. I wanted to at least like the circus-y bits. Ray Bolger is enjoyable. But even he couldn't save this one. When their wedding is called off literally because the circus performers are PERFORMING CIRCUS ACTS instead of staying seated and waiting for the ceremony to begin, it seems like this "love" story is doomed. She's mad that her future husband is mad about the circus their wedding has become. If her friends can't use the publicity of the wedding to sell tickets for shows, then there will be no wedding. Can these two sing their way back to "I do."

1950s

• 1950. Sunset Boulevard. This is SO hard to rate. On the one hand, I thought the writing and acting were of the highest, highest, highest quality. The narration was just the right dark and spooky--as the whole movie is a flashback from a corpse. I do think if he'd ever once read the book of Proverbs, there wouldn't have been much of a movie. I think it is MEMORABLE as well. I don't see myself watching it again and again and again. But I am glad I have watched it once. May watch it a few more times in my life. But if you're on the fence of if you should....give it a chance.
• 1952 Stars and Stripes Forever. Musical. Period Drama. Biopic. John Philip Sousa. It isn't a biopic of his whole life, mind you, more narrowly focusing on his composing/conducting career and the composition of Stars and Stripes Forever. Also a romance thrown in of young protoges. But from what I can deduce, these were purely fictional characters.

1970s

• 1973. Westworld. It was NOT a good vacation. I am not a fan of westerns, mind you, but I do enjoy science fiction. This one is definitely ventures into horror a bit. Josh Brolin looks SO much like Christian Bale. He's not the lead in this movie, but, I kept getting distracted.

1990s

• 1994. Star Trek: Generations Captain Kirk gets one more chance to be the ultimate HERO. This one has the original cast (a tiny, tiny, tiny bit, mainly just Captain Kirk) AND the next generation cast. Data gets ALL the emotions. AND HE SINGS about tiny little precious life forms!
• 1996. Star Trek: First Contact. With very little hesitation, First Contact is my favorite, favorite, favorite of the Star Trek movies with the Next Generation cast. I love the soundtrack, the story, the characters. LILY is all the awesome. Data has a rough time of it. But time travel is good fun.
• 1995. Jumanji. After seeing Zathura and enjoying it I decided to watch Jumanji. It was good. I liked it. It was over the top, but, good. Two kids in 1969 start playing a game.....and soon regret it. Alan vanishes into the game itself and Sarah's life is forever changed by the trauma of witnessing it AND not being believed. Peter and Judy are "present day" kids twenty-six years later who join the game in progress.
• 1996. Independence Day. I watched it last year and enjoyed it. Watched it this year and got heavy eyelids. To be fair, I might have gotten heavy eyelids no matter what I was watching. Some nights are just like that. Anyway, for the 1% that doesn't remember, this is an alien invasion action movie.
• 1998. Star Trek: Insurrection. I enjoy this one. I don't know that I love, love, love this one. It is hard to be as awesome as First Contact. But I do like the characters and the story is enjoyable enough.

2020s

• 2023. Behind Your Touch.  K-drama. Mystery/supernatural. The premise is STRANGE, strange, super-strange. The main character is a veterinarian who is touching a cow during a meteor show and gets super powers. She can SEE memories when she touches behinds. The detective soon finds her useful in helping to solve cases. BUT the show is far from light and fun. It's DARK and mysterious and just WEIRD.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews

Week in Review #26

This week I read three books.

50. Next Door There Is a Dinosaur. Saskia Gwinn. Illustrated by Leanne Coelho. 2026. 32 pages. [Source: Library]


4.5 Tyndale's New Testament. William Tyndale. Edited by David Daniell. 1996. 466 pages. [Source: Bought] [5 stars, New Testament, Early Bible Translations]

16. The Lumber Baron's Wife. Lynn Austin. 2026. 368 pages. [Source: Library] [Christian fiction, historical fiction, dual timelines, multiple narrators, three stars]

Century of Viewing #26

1960s

• 1963 Take Her She's Mine. Is it my favorite Jimmy Stewart movie? No. Is it my favorite Sandra Dee movie? No. Is it still fun and worth watching? Yes. I think so! A dad regrets his daughter growing up into a "babe" and attracting all the wrong attention as she's in college. This is not the kind of movie that would be made today, but it's enjoyable.

1980s

• 1982 The Secret of NIMH. I have read the book, though it has been a while. I don't know why they had to change it to Mrs. Brisby instead of Mrs. Frisby. There may have been other changes as well....this one wasn't my favorite. I do remember liking the book.
• 1984 Gremlins. What I loved, I loved. What I didn't....well I distracted myself and tuned out. It does blend comedy with horror. It's also a Christmas movie. The rules were simple: No getting it wet, no feeding it after midnight, no bright lights. But one thing leads to another....and well chaos happens. I think a few VERY bad decisions were made. Definitely not enough overthinking going on.

1990s

• 1991. Don't Tell Mom The Babysitter's Dead. I have never seen this one. It was interesting. Yes, the premise is slightly dark. But it's such a small part that you almost almost forget about it entirely. Mainly this is a coming of age into responsibility movie. With a slight romance thrown in. I enjoyed it.

2000s

• 2002 The Rookie. This is a biopic of Jim Morris. Set in Texas. Filmed in Texas. (If wikipedia is correct). I enjoyed the relationships of this film. I am not a sporty-sport person, but I like films with character development and substance. Seeing his relationship with his own children AND his troubled relationship with his father....it was good.
• 2005 Zathura. Two brothers battle it out for a bit...but a board game might just bring them closer together....if they survive long enough to make up. Meanwhile, big sister is chilling.
• 2007 Stardust. Would I watch it a second time????? Probably not. The last thirty to forty minutes have plenty of action AND some heart. I wouldn't say the last bit was terrible--far from it. Almost enjoyable even. But this one is incredibly slow in some ways. A large cast. More small parts than big parts. Anyway, Tristan, the hero, is in lust with Victoria who's all about $$$. He promises her a falling star, but, ends up falling in love with the falling star. THREE evil witches (and perhaps other witches as well) are after the falling star. Meanwhile, the falling star is wearing a necklace that will determine the fate of a kingdom. Brothers battling it out to be the last remaining male heir to the kingdom....and they are a little too effective.
• 2008 27 Dresses. I am almost positive I saw this one when it first came out, but, it's been a while. I enjoyed this romantic comedy. It is gimmicky, but, it is almost worth it for the ending. Kate has been in twenty-seven weddings. BUT her twenty-eighth dress might just be the best of all--her own wedding dress.

2010s

• 2016 The 5th Wave. Science fiction based on a YA book. Of course there's a love triangle. And teen angst. Like Cassie caring more about a stranger (one in the love triangle) reading her journal than the actual actual alien invasion and all the personal losses to her and humanity. But there must be obstacles. I liked it well enough.

© 2026 Becky Laney of Becky's Book Reviews